Thank you to everyone who attended in person and who watched the livestream.
El Pueblo Canta Immigrant Justice Benefit Concert, March 26, 2022
RECORDING
Concert Program: Click here
EPC Calls to Action: Click here
Photos from the 2022 El Pueblo Canta concert: Click here
The 13th Annual El Pueblo Canta Concert
Saturday March 26, 2022
at 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM CST
El Pueblo Canta will be an In Person & Live Streamed Concert (Details Below)
Co-sponsored by Centro Romero, CRLN, and Wellington UCC
and in solidarity with American Muslims for Palestine Chicago, Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, and Bright Stars of Bethlehem
About the Concert:
El Pueblo Canta: A Concert to Celebrate the Movement for Immigrant Justice, Un concierto para celebrar el Movimiento para la Justicia al immigrante.
For the thirteenth year, Wellington UCC will co-sponsor El Pueblo Canta along with Centro Romero and the Chicago Religious Leadership Network in support of a community where all are welcome. El Pueblo Canta brings people together from across the city to celebrate our diversity, embolden the work for immigrant justice, and embrace the belief that who we are, is greater than any fear. All proceeds benefit the work of immigrant justice.
El Pueblo Canta will be an In Person & Live Streamed Concert:
In Person:
- Tickets required, available for up to 100 people on a first-some first-serve basis.
- COVID protocol requires masks and proof of COVID19 vaccination or a 48-hour negative COVID19 test.
- Doors open at 5:30 PM – Traditional Latino and Middle Eastern food for purchase.
- Concert 7:00 PM – 8:30PM.
- Event held at North Shore Baptist Church, 5244 N. Lakewood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640 (click here for map).
- Parking: Plenty of residential street parking available. No parking lot at the church.
Live Stream:
- Tune in 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM CST
- Tickets are appreciated in order to receive the link for the livestream.
- FOOD TO GO: If you would like to serve food prepared by Centro Romero Women, you can order by Friday, March 25th @ 12 Noon, and pick up on the concert day between 5:30-6:30 PM. You MUST prepay by Clicking on the “General Offering” in the top right corner and selecting “El Pueblo Canta 2022- FOOD:”
- Click here to place your FOOD TO GO order and prepay by March 25th at 12 Noon.
2022 Concert Featuring Music by (Photos and Bios below):
El Wadi Ensemble, featuring Anita Darwish and Hassan Salameh
Dare2Dream, Centro Romero Youth Choir
Wanda I. Pabellón-García
LaRob K. Rafael
VOICES
Wellington Community Choir
HOLDING ON TO HOPE AND HUMANITY
WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME
About the Performers
Dare2Dream
Dare2Dream: Centro Romero’s Youth Choir, will once again “Rock You!” as well as those who stand in the way of our shared humanity. They share these songs with their neighbors and all those who face injustice.
El Wadi Ensemble
El Wadi Ensemble is based out of Chicago and focuses on Arabic traditional music and dance. The ensemble started in 2019 and has performed for different events, festivals and fundraisers benefiting the Chicago Middle Eastern community. Each concert is developed specifically with the occasion and audience in mind. The El Pueblo Canta March 26, 2022 ensemble features Hassan Salameh on oud and vocals, and Anita Darwish on vocals and flute.
LeRob K. Rafael
LeRob K. Rafael is a native of Temple Hills, Maryland, LaRob K. Rafael developed a love for singing at an early age. He found a spirit in the Gospel songs he sang and nuance in the Classical music he learned. A graduate of DePaul University where he received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, LaRob has studied with world-renowned teachers, directors, and coaches and has had musical opportunities that include traveling internationally to study language, culture, and music.
As an Arts Administrator, he has worked with Lyric Opera of Chicago in the Learning and Creative Engagement Department, sits on the Board of La Caccina, an all-women’s profession choral ensemble, as Diversity and Community Engagement Advisor, been the Director of Community Engagement with Chicago’s Ear Taxi Festival (2021), and is an active consultant with the recently formed Black Opera Alliance and Black Administrators of Opera groups.
LaRob is the Founder and Artistic Director of Hearing in Color, an organization dedicated to supporting those whose contributions and stories have been historically excluded from classical spaces. He is a current member of the William Ferris Chorale and has been featured as a guest artist, soloist, or speaker on several in-person or virtual events. LaRob was a cast member in the recently released film musical, Hal King (Amazon, 2021) produced by Steve Wallace and composed the theme music for the hit horror movie podcast, Nightmare on Fierce Street.
Additionally, LaRob uses his voice to connect people from different communities as recently appointed weekend morning host of Chicago’s Classical music radio station, WFMT (98.7 FM) to aid in decentralizing the predominantly white, European, male-centered classical consciousness.
Wanda I. Pabellón-García
Wanda I. Pabellón-García, born and raised in Puerto Rico, has been singing from very early in her life. Singing has been her way to serve God, the church and humanity. For Wanda singing is the way to express love, and instrument for human transformation.
Wellington Community Choir
Wellington Community Choir: Using various musical styles and genres including classical, Latin, gospel, global, traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, the Wellington choir creates a thoughtful and inclusive experience that builds community and inspires people to live their faith in action. The choir’s music embodies the embroidered message (Dari language) of the handmade, Afghani peace scarves they wear: “Borderfree” represents the hope that “borders” will not separate or destroy families anywhere in the world.
The El Pueblo Canta song song selection is Walk With Me, by Maggie Wheeler. Used with permission. www.GoldenBridgeChoir.com
VOICES
VOICES: For 38 years, 8 recordings – including the 2015 release of Sailing Free, and an ever-evolving generation of musicians – VOICES has been a mainstay in the Chicago political-folk scene, dedicating their music to seeking social justice through a multicultural message of peace. VOICES (Annalise, Buddy, Chris with Debbie Southern, pianist) will sing Jean Rohe’s “National Anthem: Arise! Arise!” (revised 2021). A prolific songwriter, Jean is perhaps best known for her video single, “National Anthem: Arise! Arise!” an aspirational alternative national anthem performed live with brass ensemble and choir, which has now been covered hundreds of times by soloists and choirs across the US. www.jeanrohe.com
About the 2020 Leadership Team
Speakers
Left to right: Rosana Thompson, Ann-Louise Haak, Nida Ali, Susi Salgado, Juan Carlos
Event Team
Back row left to right: Juan Carlos, CRLN; Nida Ali, American Muslims for Palestine Chicago; Ann-Louise Haak, Wellington UCC Pastor; Rosana Thompson, Bright Stars of Bethlehem, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy and Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East; Middle row left to right: Shelby Hatch, Wellington UCC tech team; Chris Inserra, Wellington UCC Music Director; Front Row left to right: Susi Salgado, Centro Romero; Hannah Frank, tech team; Not pictured: Camille Odeh
About the Sponsors
Centro Romero is a community-based not-for-profit with the mission to provide opportunities for those community residents with the fewest options. Through education and services, Centro Romero emphasizes the development of the whole family unit, the creation of community leadership, and self-reliance. www.centroromero.org
Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America’s Immigration Program, engaging faith communities through education, advocacy and action to work for immigrant justice. www.crln.org/Chicago-New-Sanctuary
Wellington United Church of Christ is a Christian church with a focus on living our faith in action. We are ecumenical in outlook and background, respecting other faiths and traditions as paths to God. As followers of the God of Life we acknowledge God’s call to non-violence as a basic tenet of our faith, affirming and publicly declaring our opposition to all forms of oppression including injustice towards immigrant sisters and brothers. www.waucc.org
Help Us Grow: Host a “Watch Party” for El Pueblo Canta
What is a Watch Party? Inviting friends to watch the Facebook live-stream together.
(Note: this proposal is contingent on public health safety guidelines. If COVID 19 cases make it not safe to gather even in small groups, we will cancel any such plans).
Anyone is welcome to host a Watch Party for El Pueblo Canta, and this is a good way to support the event, spread the word, and make it even more fun! Depending on your space and on current public health guidance, consider inviting a small group to your home to watch the online concert together.
- If you have a back yard and a projector, this is ideal for public health reasons.
- FOOD TO GO: If you would like to serve food prepared by Centro Romero Women, you can order by Friday, March 25th and pick up on the concert day between 5:30-6:30. More information to come.
- Consider making a “pitch” at the event or a simple, friendly invitation to make a donation (or even consider making an additional donation if guests have done so). Holding up a basket or donation box for your announcement and then leaving it in a prominent place is one way to do it.
